The scent of pine needles, the crackling of a campfire, the cozy shelter of a tent… childhood camping trips in Ontario Parks hold a special place in my heart. From those rustic “vault toilets” to the thrill of exploring new parks like Balsam Lake or Algonquin, the memories still make me smile.

As a kid, I remember those dark brown “vault toilet” buildings—the ones that required a flashlight at night. But you know what? It didn’t matter. WE WERE CAMPING! Balsam Lake, Kill Bear, Algonquin, Bonecho, and Sharbot Lake—all these names evoke a sense of adventure and freedom.

As an adult, I appreciate Ontario Parks even more. The clean bathrooms (with real showers!), spacious campsites, and central amenities make them ideal for families. Growing up near Presquile Provincial Park was a dream – it was our own giant, nature-filled backyard!

But our absolute best family camping adventure was at The Pinery Provincial Park. My teens had enough space for independence, yet we were close enough to share laughter around the campfire, creating those forever moments.

Now, years later, my husband and I have the time to camp every summer. We bought a new tent at season’s end for half price—a sign, perhaps, that it was time to bid farewell to our trusty old Woods tent.

Setting Up Camp: Tarp Tales and Rainy Smiles

Every year, like clockwork, we unfold our camping ritual. Last year, a friendly gentleman strolled by as we were setting up. He glanced at our tarp and quipped, “Overkill, isn’t it?” We simply nodded and replied, “We’ll see.”

A few days later, there he was again—this time using a beach umbrella to shield himself from heavy rain. Meanwhile, we sat cozy and dry under our trusty tarp, sipping morning coffee. With a friendly “Good Morning,” we exchanged knowing smiles. He nodded back, perhaps a tad sheepishly, and continued on to the bathroom.

The tarp is always our first order of business. We play a game of “which trees to tie around” as we set it up. Over time, we’ve fine-tuned our technique. One stormy year, we lost a couple of grommets, but we adapted. And those adjustable, good-quality bungee cords? They’re our secret weapon, working seamlessly with each rope. Oh, and let’s not forget the poles we recycled from an old screen room tent—they’re part of our well-oiled setup. When we land our goal is setting up and hitting that sandy beach!

If you enjoy the sound of the rain on a tarp while you enjoying your morning camp coffee this video is for you!

Ontario Parks are like a well-loved book with extra chapters. Each one I’ve visited offers the same warm services, and then—surprise!—they unveil their own special magic. There’s a sense of peace that washes over me the moment I step onto their trails, a feeling of being both grounded and uplifted by the natural world. The vibrant colours, the symphony of birdsong, the textures of moss and stone – they all speak to a part of me that craves that wildness.

Until next time friends…

So, I’ve been chatting non-stop about kayaking, and it occurred to me that I haven’t really shared the story behind my passion for this amazing sport. And it’s all thanks to @shadowspub!

Growing up, our family of seven was all about camping during the summer vacations. That is, until 1976, when my parents bought a general store in Castleton. With the store came a new lifestyle and, sadly, an end to our family camping adventures.

Some of my fondest memories are from camping at places like Algonquin, Bon Echo, Balsam Lake, Killbear, and Sharbot Lake. It was at Sharbot Lake where my love for paddling first began. Our campsite had this charming little path down to the lake, and one morning, @shadowspub and I sneaked out for my very first paddle. I was about five or six, and every paddle stroke created sparkles on the water like hundreds of diamonds. It was so peaceful and magical, and I remember trying to follow a loon as it dived and resurfaced. It was a fun game, guessing where it would pop up next!

Fast forward a bit, and we’re living by a small lake near Haliburton. My hubby and I got this old 14-foot canoe. It was a bit overkill for our pond-like lake, but we had the best time spotting wildlife, like the legendary Moby Dick, the muskie who loved to shake our dock while we fished. Those were some great times!

Life took another turn when my hubby passed away, and things were pretty hectic for a while. But then, life brought me to London, where I met my current hubby, started a business, and got a trailer in Port Bruce by Lake Erie. That’s when my kayaking journey really began. A friend lent me an inflatable kayak, and I was instantly in love with paddling along the shore and up the river. When my trusty kayak finally gave out, I knew it was time for an upgrade.

That same year, my dad got sick and passed away. Amidst that tough time, I received some wonderful news – I was going to be a Nana! The realization hit me when I saw @dezziq one morning, and it was such an exciting time. Over the winter, I dove into researching kayaks and, with some inheritance money, I got my current inflatable kayak and gear. I’m so grateful for the thought I put into choosing the right kayak. It’s been my trusty companion for 12 years now, and every time I inflate it, I feel a sense of gratitude to my dad.

Kayaking is more than just a hobby; it’s a unique experience every time. It’s never the same, and that’s what makes it so special. Do any of you have a passion that means the world to you? I’d love to hear about it!

Until next time friends…

I finally faced my fear and made a Bad Karaoke video. It’s not great but it’s filmed on Fanshawe Lake in my kayak so the scenery is nice.

I’ve always admired @snook and @simgirl‘s contest. The people who enter always seem to be having fun but if you know me then you know I’m the introvert’s introvert but I want to support this awesome initiative. So….this is for all of you.

BTW: I still think you should call it Bad Ass Karaoke. AND…. I may have swore a few times…just so you know. LOL

Until next time friends…

Last October was I lucky enough to go to an event hosted by Antony Chodas, owner of Camera Canada – Forest City Image Center at the Circle R Ranch here in S.W. Ontario. What an amazing day it was!!

Many of the major camera manufacturers had reps there: Bushnell, Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Pentax, Panasonic, Ricoh, Sony, Tamron and Zeiss. They loaned me lenses to play with! It was blissful.

My Olympus OMD10 is a mirror-less 4/3 frame camera so I was very happy to see Sony there. Their lenses fit and I was impressed with their quality. Well…truthfully, I was drooling and very sad when I had to give them back!

I went with my friend Mary Ellen. It was so fun to see her in action. She’s a long time professional photographer, so she’s mastered getting right in there to get her shot! I learned a few thing about avoiding elbows. This is a picture of how she looked all day. grin

Equally exciting, because I love birding and photography, was the fact that the Canadian Raptor Conservancy AND the Ontario Hawking Club brought their beautiful birds for us to photograph.

Let’s see how many you recognize:

These were just a few of the Raptors there. We had to keep in mind that it was hot later in the day and these guys needed their shade. My settings weren’t quite right for some photos but I’m learning more all the time.

The Circle R Ranch is very pretty to explore. They have horses:

This little puppy made me giggle as I watched him meet a horse for the first time.

Kennedy’s Kridders was also on site to introduce us to his “family”.

Of course there were snakes, spiders and scorpions but not everyone was comfortable with them. GRIN. I did however take deep breaths and snap some pics.

Looking over these photos, I’m recognizing mistakes and realizing how much I have learned just since October.

If you have the chance to attend the next Nature Day, or something similar near you, I suggest you take it. Honestly, I could write all day about the people I met, the fun I had and how much I learned. It was a valuable experience.

Until next time friends…